Packaging system

ABSTRACT

Packaging for one or more bottles comprises one or more inflatable pouches, each for protecting a respective bottle. The pouches are formed from interconnected parallel tubes  3  of flexible polymeric material. A valve  4  allows inflation of the pouches. An outlet  5  allows deflation of the pouches, so that they can be reused. A set of series of pouches can be transported in a substantially parallelepiped bag.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a packaging system for packaging fragile articles such as glass bottles containing liquids.

Inflatable air pouches for packaging bottles are known. Typically of polyethylene, they comprise an arrangement of interconnected parallel tubes that when inflated forms a generally cylindrical container, with the tubes extending in a generally mutual parallel orientation to form the cylindrical wall and a base of the container. Such a pouch can comprise a body portion intended to contain the body of a bottle, and an upper portion connected to the body portion along part of the cylindrical wall and arranged to be placed over the neck and closure of the bottle. It can be inflated from a flat condition to a generally cylindrical condition either before or after placing the bottle inside. A one-time valve closes the pouch to keep it inflated.

The inflated bag containing the bottle has to be placed inside a further container for transportation. This is typically a cardboard box.

On receipt of the packaged bottle, a user has to dispose of the packaging. The bottle and outer box can be recycled, but not conveniently as they are of different materials. The pouch is typically punctured and discarded in a manner potentially damaging to the environment.

The cost of such pouches has generally meant that they are only used for single bottles, for example of spirits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an inflatable pouch that is better for the environment than existing pouches.

The invention provides packaging for one or more bottles, comprising one or more inflatable pouches, each for protecting a respective bottle, the one or more pouches being formed from interconnected parallel tubes of flexible polymeric material, and a valve allowing inflation of the tubes and the pouch, the pouch also capable of being deflated.

In this way, a consumer receiving the pouch can deflate it and return it to the supplier of the bottles, for example in an envelope provided by the supplier with the packaging.

In one example, the packaging comprises a deflation opening, openable to allow deflation of the pouch. Alternatively, the valve that allows inflation of the pouch can also be adapted to allow deflation thereof.

The packaging can comprise a series of said pouches, with the tubes of adjacent pouches being joined and the series having a single valve for inflation of the series.

In one example, the packaging comprises a series of four or six of the pouches.

The tubes may extend in a generally mutual parallel orientation to form the cylindrical wall and a base of the or each pouch. Each pouch can comprise a body portion intended to contain the body of a bottle, and an upper portion connected to the body portion along part of the cylindrical wall and arranged to be placed over the neck and closure of the bottle.

The invention also provides a bag for containing a plurality of inflated pouches arranged in a rectangular array, each housing a bottle, the bag comprising a rectangular bottom panel joined at edges thereof to four rectangular side panels, and a rectangular lid joined at one edge to an upper edge of one of the side panels, foldable with respect thereto and having means for attaching the lid to at least one of the other side panels. The lid can be of a size slightly larger than the bottom panel. The attaching means can be provided on each of the three free edges of the lid, for attaching the lid to each of the three other side panels. The attaching means can comprise adhesive strips, for example protected by release papers before use.

The invention also provides a combination of a set of series of pouches and a bag as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a series of pouches according to an embodiment of the invention, in a deflated condition;

FIG. 2 shows the pouches of FIG. 1 in an inflated condition;

FIG. 3 shows inflated pouches according to an alternative embodiment, containing beer bottles;

FIG. 4 shows inflated pouches according to a further alternative embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a bag for transporting the pouches; and

FIG. 6 shows the bag containing the pouches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a series of six pouches formed from polyethylene, in a flat condition. Each pouch comprises a body portion 1 and an upper portion 2, joined to each other at one side so that the pouch can be opened at the other side. Each portion is formed from interconnected parallel tubes 3. In one embodiment the tubes extend at right angles to the plane of the series shown to form a bottom of the body portion 1 and a top of the upper portion 2. Alternatively, the ends of the tubes can be simply welded together at the top and bottom of the pouch.

All of the tubes 3 in the series are interconnected.

An inflation valve 4 is provided at one end of the series. The valve comprises two flexible flanges that will close together by default. A needle-shaped nozzle, connected to a source of compressed air, can be inserted into the valve 4 to inflate the entire series of pouches.

A deflation outlet 5 is also provided, in this example at the same end of the series. In this example, this comprises a spout, heat sealed to the pouch and including a threaded nozzle, closable by a threaded cap.

In its inflated condition, the series of pouches is shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative set of pouches, comprising a single valve 6 usable for both inflation and deflation. The valve 6 will open when connected to an external pressure or by a pushbutton or rotatable element. A bottle, here a bottle of beer, has been inserted into each pouch and is protected from breakage by the pouch.

FIG. 4 shows another configuration of pouches with tubes of greater diameter.

A set of series of pouches can be placed in an outer pack in the form of a rectangular bag. In non-limiting examples, for beer, four series of six pouches could be so packaged and for wine, three series of four pouches.

FIG. 5 shows such a bag. It is of flexible polymeric material, for example moulded from low density polyethylene. The bag forms a generally parallelepiped shape when the series of pouches are placed inside. The bag comprises a rectangular bottom panel (not visible), edges of which are joined to rectangular side panels, namely a rear panel 10, lateral panels 11, 12, and a front panel 13. A rectangular lid 14 is joined at one edge to the rear panel 10. The lid can have a logo, address details and/or other indicia printed on its outer (upper) side. Adhesive strips 15, initially protected by peel-off release strips, are provided on the inside of the lid 14 at its free edges.

The pouches are placed into the bag as shown in FIG. 6, and the adhesive strips are sealed to the top edges of the lateral and front panels 11, 12, 13, the size of the lid being sufficient to allow this. The bag is then closed and can be transported in this condition.

When a consumer receives the package, he or she peels open the lid, removes the pouches, and removes the bottles from the pouches. Depending on the valves provided, the pouches can then be deflated by opening the outlet 5 or operating the valve 6. The deflated pouches can be returned to the supplier, for example in a return envelope that is provided in the bag. The consumer could be incentivised to return the pouches for example by a discount on future purchases. 

1. Packaging for one or more bottles, comprising one or more inflatable pouches, each for protecting a respective bottle, the one or more pouches being formed from interconnected parallel tubes of flexible polymeric material, and a valve allowing inflation of the tubes and the pouch, the pouch also capable of being deflated.
 2. Packaging according to claim 1, comprising a deflation opening, openable to allow deflation of the pouch.
 3. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the valve that allows inflation of the pouch is also adapted to allow deflation thereof.
 4. Packaging according to claim 1, comprising a series of said pouches, with the tubes of adjacent pouches being interconnected and the series having a single valve for inflation and deflation of the series.
 5. Packaging according to claim 4, comprising a series of four or six of the pouches.
 6. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the tubes extend in a generally mutual parallel orientation to form a substantially cylindrical wall of the or each pouch in an inflated condition thereof.
 7. Packaging according to claim 6, wherein the tubes also form a base of the or each pouch in the inflated condition.
 8. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the or each pouch comprises a body portion intended to contain a body of a bottle, and an upper portion connected to the body portion along part of a perimeter of the body portion and arranged to be placed over a neck and a closure of the bottle.
 9. A combination of packaging according to claim 1 and a bag for containing a plurality of the pouches, each inflated, and arranged in a rectangular array, each pouch housing a bottle, the bag comprising a rectangular bottom panel joined at edges thereof to four rectangular side panels, and a rectangular lid joined at one edge to an upper edge of one of the side panels, foldable with respect thereto and having means for attaching the lid to at least one of the other side panels. 